"It is groundless for Japan to claim sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands in accordance with the so-called Treaty of San Francisco," Hua said.

As China is not a signatory to the Treaty of San Francisco, this treaty is neither legally binding to China nor a legal basis for China and Japan to settle post-war territorial entitlements, Hua said.

"Japan's continuous provocative acts on the Diaoyu Islands, in nature, reflect Japan's attempt to deny the effects of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and challenge post-war international order," Hua said.

The current tensions between China and Japan originate from the fact that Japan has not completely reflected on or criticized its past of militaristic aggression, Hua said.

She urged Japan to give up illusions, face up to reality, deeply reflect on the past, show sincerity and make substantial efforts to properly resolve the current problem.